Machine for making link mesh.



D. P. FITZGE D.

. MACHINE FOR MAKIN K MESH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1913.

1,092,251. Pa en ed Apr. 7, 1914 WITNESSES Ml VE/VTO/i w gltQ I COLUMBIAPLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON D c DANIEL P. FITZGERALD, OF NEWARK, NEWJERSEY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING LINKIVIESH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. '2, 1914.

Application filed May 13, 1913. Serial No. 767,263.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I,DANIEL P. FITZGERAL acitizen of the United States, residingat Newark, in the county of Essexand State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Machines for Making Link Mesh, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to a machine for making link mesh. In suchconnection it has particular relation to the means for sup porting themesh during the forming operations.

Among the various styles and patterns of the fabric, known amongjewelers as link mesh, the efforts (so far as I am aware,) to secure theaid of machinery in its manufacture, have been. confined or restrictedto the one in which the intermeshed links are composed of round rings,made from round wire, and it is this class of work that the presentinvention is intended to facilitate and improve.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of a support or supports forthe link mesh, one or both of which supports having upon its periphery,annular or spiral grooves, or is otherwise suitably formed, and whichsupport is positively driven, to the end, that the work in the processof formation is carried by the revolving support in one plane, and alsoheld by its interior surface upon and ele vated by said revolvingsupport in a plane at right angles or transversely to the plane ofrotation of the support.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure1 is a top or plan view of such parts of a link mesh forming machineembodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the same,partly sectional on line wa2 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, 1 represents the table upon which are mounted the twoshafts, 2 and 8, each of which carries a supporting roll, 4 and 5,having a ball or similar bearing 7. Each of said rolls 1 and 5 is firmlyheld upon, and moved by, its shaft 2 or 3 and both of them are adaptedto be moved or revolved in the same direction, at the same time, and tothe same extent, by a ratchet and pawl feed 8, and 9 of well-knownconstruction. These rolls are provided on their periphery with annularor spiral grooves 6, as may be best adapted for the special Workrequired, which work (the mesh fabric) 10 is placed or carried upon theperiphery of the rolls. As these rolls 1 and 5; are intended to be usedboth as a support for the fabric, 10', while in process of making, andalso for the movement and advance of said fabric to the proper points orpositions at which the additional links are to be added thereto, orconnected therewith, and as a period of rest or stoppage is required ateach operation of the forming tools 12, I propose to use as a means forbringing about this irregular or intermittent movement of the rolls, anywell known ratchet feed 9, which is adapted to make certain the properand mutual action and movement of said rolls.

The small rolls 11, each one of which may be mounted on a suitable shaftor spindle, havea plain surface of elastic or yielding material, such asfelt, rubber or the like. Being placed adjacent to the main rolls, 4 and5, they are intended to be used in contact with the fabric 10, and toassist in bold ing the same in its proper place or position while beingrevolved or controlled by the movement and action of the supportingrolls, and to prevent buckling of the fabric during the formingoperations.

The tools for forming additional links for the fabric 10, arediagrammatically illustrated at 12, and are of a construction well knownin the art.

One, important advantage of my invention is to be found in the fact,that by the use of the parallel rolls as a support, the Work can readilybe manufactured in the form of an endless band or apron, the size ofwhich can be determined by the size of the rolls 4L and 5 and thedistance between the centers of said rolls. Again the space between thesupporting rolls 4L and 5 permits of the location of the forming toolsin a position where their operation is readily observed, and said tools12 are easily accessible for any desired change, replacement or repair.

Having thus described the nature and object of my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for making tubular fabric of link mesh, a support forthe work comprising essentially a roll inclosed by the fabric and havingits periphery provided with a spiral groove to engage the inner wall ofthe fabric and support the same, and means for positively rotating saidroll to thereby advance the fabric in directions parallel to andtransversely of the plane of the axis of said roll.

2. In a machine for making tubular ric of link mesh, a support fortheW'OIk comprising a plurality of rolls inclosed by the fabric, inparallel relationship 'to each other and separated some distance fromeach other, the periphery of said "rolls having a spiral groove toengage the inner Wall of the fabric, combined with means for. positivelydriving said rollsintermitte'ntly to thereby advance'the fabric indirections parallel to and transversely of'the plane of the axis of saidrolls.

3. In a machine for making tubular fabric o-f linkmesh, a support'forthe fabric comprising essentially two rolls inclosed by the fabric, theperiphery of the rolls'engaging the inner Wall of the fabric to supportthe same and adapted to move said fabric intermittently at stated andregular periods, and means for positivelyrotating said rolls.

4. Ina machine for making tubular fabric of link mesh, a support for thefabric comprising essentially tWo parallel rolls in fabclosed by thefabric, the periphery of the rolls engaging the-inner all of the fabricto support the same and adapted to move said fabric intermittently atstated and'regu-" lar periods, link-forming mechanism arranged tooperate in the space between said parallel rolls, and means forpositively rotating said rolls.

5. In a machine for making tubular fabric of link mesh, a support forthe fabric and an auxiliary roll arranged adjacent to each rotating rolland located outside the fabric to press said fabric upon the periph- 5ery of the rotating rolls.

DANIEL P. FITZGERALD;

Witnesses:

AUGUST ROEMMELE, D. P. FITZGERALD, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

